Myths About Colorblindness

Being color-blind does not mean that a person cannot visually perceive color. It is, rather, a color-deficiency problem. This is caused from the malfunction of one, or all of the three cone cells that are sensitive to the colors red, green, and blue. Most people, who are noted as being color-blind, do see color. These individuals may just see the color in a different hue or shade.

Only Men Are Color-Blind

• Although it is true that the majority of color-blind individuals are male, females can also have a problem determining color. Because color deficiency is caused from cells in the retinas that do not function properly, and pertains to how nerve signals are sent to the brain, color blindness is not gender specific.

Color-Blind Means You Only See Black and White

• Although there are individuals who have this problem, it is very rare. In order to be totally color-blind, all three cone cells would have to be damaged. In most cases, in individuals who are thought of as color-blind, they only have one cone cell that is damaged. They can see two colors, with shades of one of the colors, red, green, or blue, that are distorted.

You Can't Work if You Are Color-Blind

• Being color-blind should not affect how a person performs his job. Being color-blind means you see the color, but in a different shade or hue. Many color-blind individuals learn how to compensate for their color deficiency by memorization. Depending on the cone cell damage, while others are seeing blue objects, a color-blind person may be seeing gray objects. Workers are putting blue objects in the box, while the color-blind person puts gray objects in the box. Either way, the same color object is being put in the box.

You Can't Drive if You Are Color-Blind

• There is no reason why a person who has a problem with color perception should not drive. These individuals quickly learn to adapt to their disability and abide by the rules and regulations that are required when obtaining a drivers license. At a stop-light, depending on the person's cone-cell damage, the top light is red, the middle is yellow, and the bottom light is green.

  The same recognition can be used for a road or highway sign. We learn the shapes of the signs and what those shapes mean. Also, just because a person is color-blind doesn't mean their vision is impaired as far as reading. A stop sign is red, and although a color-blind person may see it in a different color, they can still recognize the shape of the sign, and the word "stop."

Color-Blind Myth

• Being color-blind in itself is a myth. Even a person who has cone damage to all three cells will see color, even if it is black, white, or gray. All individuals who are color-impaired can learn to compensate and adjust to their surroundings. Therefore, being considered color-blind should have no impact or ramifications on the individual and their daily life.